🗓 April 17, 2025 — FOIA Request Submitted
Event: A FOIA request was submitted to Clare County regarding hangar leases at the Clare County Airport.
Request asked:
- Are hangars inspected?
- Is there any written documentation from tenants requesting assignment or sublease approval?
📄 April 2025 — County Response
County response:
- Hangars are not inspected
- No written requests from tenants to assign or sublease
🚨 July 4, 2025 — Security Incident
A documented security incident occurred at the airport.
📨 July 10, 2025 — Survey Sent
The County sent a survey letter to all hangar lot lease owners.
Survey responses revealed:
- One hangar housed an airworthy aircraft
- Three hangars housed non-airworthy aircraft
- One owner did not respond
- One privately owned hangar — owned by the Clare County Clerk and located on leased county airport property — did not house an aircraft at the time of response; owner intends to use it for business purposes
- One privately owned hangar associated with a former airport manager had maintenance concerns and housed a non-airworthy aircraft
- One hangar did not house an aircraft and was used for storage of non-aviation items, not consistent with airport lease terms
📊 Key Findings & Takeaways
These findings highlight important issues about:
- Lease compliance
- Airport oversight
- Enforcement consistency
- Transparency
Residents deserve:
- Clear policies and guidance on hangar leases
- Consistent enforcement of lease terms
- Complete and accessible public records
May 21, 2025 — Board of Commissioners Meeting
During the regular meeting of the Clare County Board of Commissioners, Hillary Hoose of the Aeronautics Division at the Michigan Department of Transportation addressed the board prior to the commissioners’ vote on grant approval.
Statement at the meeting:
- All eight airport hangars housed airplanes
- Approximately half of the aircraft were described as airworthy
📝 July 2025 — Survey Findings
A July 2025 survey of hangar owners who lease airport property from the county showed information inconsistent with the May figures.
Survey responses revealed:
- One hangar reportedly housed an airworthy aircraft
- Three hangars reportedly housed non-airworthy aircraft
- One owner did not respond
- One privately owned hangar — owned by the Clare County Clerk and located on leased county airport property — was reported as not housing an aircraft at the time of the responses; the owner indicated intent to use it for business purposes
- One privately owned hangar associated with a former airport manager was reported as having maintenance concerns and housed a non-airworthy aircraft
- One hangar reportedly did not house an aircraft and was used for storage of non-aviation items, described as not consistent with airport lease terms
📊 Key Takeaways
These survey results highlight discrepancies between what was reported at the May board meeting and what leaseholders reported in July, raising concerns about:
- Accuracy of information presented to the Board
- Lease compliance and enforcement
- Transparency in airport reporting
Residents and stakeholders deserve:
- Clear and accurate reporting on hangar use
- Consistent enforcement of lease terms
- Access to complete and transparent records
An overview of hangar use, lease compliance, and safety concerns at Clare County and Harrison Airports.
🏭 Harrison Airport — Hangar Use Concerns
Issue: Recently released airport records show a hangar reportedly being used for non-aviation storage (dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and a boat) with no aircraft present.
According to the airport manager’s report:
- A third party was accessing the hangar
- Tenant allegedly violated lease terms requiring aircraft storage only
- An Airman inquiry reportedly showed no current valid pilot’s license for the tenant
- Recommendation: Issue a formal notice of default under the lease agreement
Regardless of ownership structure, airport facilities involve safety, access control, and compliance. Documented concerns like these deserve transparency and follow-up.
An analysis of Clare County Airport grant compliance for non-aeronautical leases, based on a FOIA request and grant documentation.
📨 February 25, 2026 — FOIA Request Submitted
Purpose: To obtain public records regarding compliance with state airport grant requirements for non-aeronautical leases at Clare County Airport (FAA Identifier: 80D).
Requested records included:
- All documentation supporting the determination of fair market rental value for the airport restaurant lease (appraisals, market studies, broker opinions, etc.)
- Records related to commissioning or planning of an independent commercial appraisal or broker opinion if no analysis exists
- Reports, memoranda, presentations, or documents prepared for or presented to the Clare County Board of Commissioners regarding adjustments to ensure grant compliance
- Any resolutions, minutes, or records discussing policies related to fair market value leasing at Clare County Airport, particularly for non-aeronautical activities
Delivery requested: Electronic format via email.
📩 March 2026 — County FOIA Response
Response from Clare County Finance Coordinator / FOIA Coordinator Joy Bringold:
- No documents exist supporting the determination of fair market rental value for the restaurant lease
- No documents exist relating to commissioning or planning of an independent commercial appraisal or broker opinion
- No documents exist regarding adjustments to the restaurant lease to ensure compliance with state grant assurances
- Clare County website contains all minutes of Board of Commissioners meetings
Implication: There appears to be no documented analysis supporting compliance with the grant requirement that non-aeronautical leases be charged at fair market value.
📄 Grant Agreement Requirements
According to the state airport grant:
- The airport must be made available for public use for all types of aeronautical activity on fair and reasonable terms without unjust discrimination
- Rates charged to aeronautical users are based on cost to the SPONSOR
- Non-aeronautical activities must be charged fair market value
- All revenues must be expended on airport capital/operating costs or related facilities
Observation: Without supporting documentation, it is unclear how fair market value compliance is verified for the airport restaurant lease.
📊 Key Takeaways
- There are no public records verifying that non-aeronautical leases, such as the airport restaurant, are being charged at fair market value as required by the grant.
- Transparency and accountability are essential to ensure that public assets are managed according to state grant requirements.
- Residents and stakeholders deserve clarification on how compliance is achieved and documented.